Friday, 23 May 2014

Southport’s Newest Pub: The Guelder Rose

"I wonder if Blackpool can see us?"

The Guelder Rose is a new pub on Southport’s sea front, very close to the pier. It's been open a for few months now but I've only just got around to going there. Although built in a traditional pub style outside by Marstons, the inside with its light wood furniture resembles more a modern café or restaurant than a pub. This isn’t surprising, as food features prominently: they offer a good range of reasonably-priced pub food, a carvery, various specials, a children’s menu and an allergy menu.

The real ales when I visited were Jennings Cockerhoop (4.6%) and Ringwood Filly Drift (a seasonal beer - 4.7%), which both struck me as a bit strong for what is obviously a family-oriented pub, but they do put on other beers from the Marstons range. There are indoor and outdoor play areas for children, and an outdoor seating area with, on a clear day, a great view over the bay to Blackpool.

As it is on the Marine Drive, it is unlikely to feature in town centre pub crawls, but its proximity to Ocean Plaza with its shops, cafés, cinema, bowling alley and hotel means it should get a lot of custom from people using those facilities, both locals and visitors, especially those with children.

This is first of a series of articles that I am writing for the CAMRA column in our local paper, the Southport Visiter. Other reviews are here.